Last night's special 90-minute series premiere of Fear the Walking Dead made television history, delivering 10.1 million live/same day viewers and becoming the #1 series premiere in cable television history for total viewers and all key demos. The episode delivered 6.3 million adults 18-49. In that coveted demographic, AMC now is home to three of the top five cable series premieres of all time in live/same day viewing - Fear the Walking Dead at #1 (2015), Better Call Saul at #2 (2015) and The Walking Dead at #5 (2010) - a remarkable accomplishment so far into the post-DVR era. A Talking Dead Season 6 Preview Special that preceded the Fear premiere last night delivered 4.2 million viewers, and 2.5 million adults 18-49. Here's what Charlie Collier, president of AMC and SundanceTV, had to say in a statement about the record-breaking ratings.

"Thank you and congratulations to Robert Kirkman, Dave Erickson, the brilliant executive producers and the entire cast and crew of Fear the Walking Dead. It is increasingly difficult to evaluate a show's success on night one. However, we are releasing these live/same day ratings because Fear the Walking Dead delivered record-breaking numbers that are all the more special in this era of time-shifted viewing and audience fragmentation. To have a companion series to the #1 show on television driving communal, urgent viewing, social activity and pop cultural relevance of this magnitude is truly differentiating. Of course none of it is possible without the fans, whose passion leads to these remarkable results."

The series premiere of Fear the Walking Dead earned a 5.0 national rating with 10.1 million viewers. In the Adults 18-49 demographic, the zombie series earned a 4.9 national rating with 6.3 million, along with a 5.3 national rating and 6.3 million in the Adults 25-54 demographic. The Talking Dead preview special scored a 2.2 national rating with 4.2 million viewers. It also earned a 1.9 national rating with 2.5 million Adults 18-49, and a 2.2 national rating with 2.6 million Adults 25-54.

The first season of Fear the Walking Dead will run for six episodes this fall. The show will return for a second season of 15 episodes next year. The Fear the Walking Dead Season 1 finale will air on Sunday, October 4 at 9 PM ET, followed by a special episode of Talking Dead at 10:10 PM ET, hosted by Talking Dead Season 4.

One week after the Fear the Walking Dead season finale, The Walking Dead will return with its Season 6 premiere on Sunday, October 11 at 9 PM ET, followed by Talking Dead. What did you think of the series premiere episode of Fear the Walking Dead last night? Let us know what you think, and stay tuned for more on both Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead.